Albion Cricket Club will celebrate a remarkable feat this
Easter - 150 not out.

Established in 1862, the club claims to be Australasia's
oldest continuous cricket club, although life member Warwick
Larkins, who is also the convener of the 150th celebrations,
has his doubts as to the veracity of the claim.

''It has never been proved beyond any doubt,'' Larkins said.

''I inquired when I was in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Now the Melbourne Cricket Club [founded in 1838] is older
than us, but no-one knew whether they had been continuous or
not.''

A history posted on the MCC's website suggests the club has
been in continuous operation, although it re-constituted
itself in 1846 - 16 years before the Albion Cricket Club was
formed.

Albion batsman Mark Richardson hits a four to bring up his
century during his team's match against Kaikorai at Culling
Park in October 2000. Photo by Craig Baxter.

Regardless, Albion has a wonderful history and has helped
nurture some of New Zealand's finest cricketers.

Household names such as Ken Rutherford, Glenn Turner, Bert
Sutcliffe, Martin Snedden, John Bracewell and even England
batsman Jonathan Trott all had stints at the club.

The McCullum brothers, Brendon and Nathan, honed their skills
on the sidelines while their father, Stu McCullum, carved out
a club and provincial career during the 1970s, '80s and early
'90s. The brothers, of course, have both gone on to represent
New Zealand, with Brendon assuming the captaincy this season.

The club has won 12 senior banners and shared the title on
another three occasions. Its most recent title came in
1999-2000.

In recent years, Green Island has dominated the club scene.
Albion had its most successful period during the 1920s when
it won four titles. The '30s and '40s were also productive
decades.

To help celebrate the 150th anniversary, the club has named
an Albion international team. The criteria were that the
players had to have played for Albion and gone on to play
international cricket.

It is very much a paper team and consequently is not a very
balanced side. The bowling stocks look thin but the team
could bat for days with players such as Andrew Jones, Mark
Richardson, Turner, Sutcliffe, Trott, Rutherford and Brendon
McCullum.

A representative team from the past 20 years has also been
named.

Celebrations begin tomorrow afternoon with an official
welcome at Culling Park.

On Saturday there is a golden oldies game followed by a
dinner that evening at the Chisholm Park Golf Club. Professor
Mark Henaghan, of the law faculty at the University of Otago,
is the keynote speaker.

On Sunday, a game between the senior side and an invitation
XI has been organised, and on Monday there will be a farewell
at the clubrooms.

Larkins said about 130 people would attend the celebrations,
with people coming from as far afield as Australia, including
former New Zealand and Otago wicketkeeper Barry Milburn, who
is making the trip from Queensland.

''It is not like a school or rugby club. Cricket clubs are a
bit smaller but 130 people is a good turnout.''

Albion Cricket Club
• Established in 1862 and thought to be Australasia's oldest
continuous cricket club.
• 124 Albion players have represented Otago.
• 24 Albion players have represented New Zealand.
• Albion has won the senior club title 12 times and shared
the title on another three occasions.
• Six New Zealanders have scored a first-class triple century
and four of them have played for Albion. They are Bert
Sutcliffe, Glenn Turner, Ken Rutherford and Mark Richardson.